metal-looking vs metal

metal-looking is not a noun while metal is a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
metal-looking	No	Yes	No	No
metal	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

metal-looking (noun)	metal (noun)
	any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
	a mixture containing two or more metallic elements or metallic and nonmetallic elements usually fused together or dissolving into each other when molten

metal-looking (adjective)	metal (adjective)
resembling metal	containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal

metal-looking (verb)	metal (verb)
	cover with metal